When studying societal actors in authoritarian states, one will necessarily have to consider the complex interactions that exist between these actors and the state. Only then, we can understand the role that societal actors might play in stabilizing the authoritarian rule or in contributing to the transformation of the political and social system. In the case of the Middle East and North Africa, the states clearly seek to determine the scope of action of society either through harsh legislation or practical constraints that de facto prevent societal organizations and movements from working properly - or both. Depending on the nature of the state, field of work, position and interests of an actor the practical obstacles in the day-to-day management of the latter range: smooth to burdensome bureaucratic procedures, intimidation, physical harassment or imprisonment. The registration, dissolution, access to financial sources and the associational life are thus deeply affected. Yet, as the 2011 uprisings in the Middle East and North Africa prove: even in such an environment societal actors have an impact on politics and the state. State-society relations appear to be dynamic processes with shifting political opportunity for the state and societal actors, both alike. Referring to theories on social movements, contentious politics, organizations or civil society, the question how state and society shape these processes and how societal actors in particular make use of emerging opportunities and which strategies they choose will be elaborated. This paper will present a synthetic framework that can help to conceptualize the relationship between the state and societal actors on the one hand, and between different groups of societal actors (namely organizations and movements) on the other hand. In that regard, special emphasis will be placed on the Middle East and North Africa.
